Since Open Enrollment began on November 1, about 8.8 million consumers signed-up for health coverage through the HealthCare.gov platform or had their coverage automatically renewed, including 137,820 Oregon. Today’s enrollment snapshot includes the number of people who selected a plan or were automatically reenrolled within local media markets. This localized data provides another level of detail to better understand total plan selections within local communities. As of January 16, 89,967 consumers in the Portland local media market area selected or were automatically enrolled in a plan
10,166 consumers in the Bend local media market area selected or were automatically enrolled in a plan
19,252 consumers in the Eugene local media market area selected or were automatically enrolled in a plan
13,958 consumers in the Medford-Klamath Falls local media market area selected or were automatically enrolled in a plan
89,967 consumers in the Portland local media market area selected or were automatically enrolled in a plan
1,269 consumers in the Spokane local media market area selected or were automatically enrolled in a plan
1,741 consumers in the Yakima-Pasco-Richland-Kennewick local media market area selected or were automatically enrolled in a plan
“As expected, consumer interest is beginning to increase again as we near the deadline for 2016 coverage,” HHS Secretary Sylvia Burwell said. “We know we have more work to do and as we count down to the January 31 final deadline, we’re focused on making sure consumers understand that they must act soon to find affordable health coverage and avoid the fee for choosing to not have health insurance in 2016. Consumers should know that we’re here to help 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.”
Open Enrollment for 2016 coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace began Nov. 1, 2015, and runs through January 31, 2016. Consumers who enroll by January 31 will have coverage effective March 1. Having health insurance when you can afford it is now the law. If someone chooses not to buy health insurance and could afford to do so, they are at risk of paying a fee of $695 or more. Consumers are encouraged to visit HealthCare.gov to review and compare health plan options and find out if they are eligible for financial assistance, which can help lower monthly premiums and reduce out-of-pocket costs.
As we near January 31, the final deadline for 2016 coverage, officials from HHS are available for print, radio and television interviews. Satellite TV interviews are also available. To request an interview with an official from HHS, email [email protected].
Five Facts about Open Enrollment in Oregon:
1. Enrollment is off to a strong start. Since Open Enrollment began on November 1, 137,820 Oregon consumers have selected a plan or were automatically re-enrolled.
2. Financial help is available. In the first month of Open Enrollment, 71 percent of Oregon consumers who selected health insurance plans were determined eligible for financial assistance to lower their monthly premiums.
3. Time is running out. January 31, 2016 is the final deadline for you to sign up at HealthCare.gov for 2016 coverage.
4. There’s still time to make changes. If you had coverage in 2015 and learned that your plan was automatically renewed for 2016, you still have time to shop plans and make changes. If you find better plan for your family is available, you can change plans at any time before the end of Open Enrollment on January 31, 2016.
5. Picking a plan and signing up for coverage is easier than ever. Every year we find new ways to make signing-up for a plan simpler. You can even apply on a cell phone.
Free, expert help is available:
If you have questions about signing up or want to talk through your options with a trained professional, free help is just a call or click away.
Online: Information is available at HealthCare.gov or CuidadoDeSalud.gov.
By phone: Call center representatives are available to help all day, every day at 1-800-318-2596. TTY users should call 1-855-889-4325. Assistance is available in 150 languages. The call is free.
In person: Consumers can find local help at by visiting: Localhelp.healthcare.gov
Additional Information about Local Enrollment Data:
Some local media markets include one or more counties in a state that is not using the HealthCare.gov platform in 2016. Plan selections for those only include data for the portions of these areas that are using the HealthCare.gov platform, so the cumulative totals in the snapshot do not represent plan selections for the entire local media market. In addition, some local media markets cross into multiple states that use the HealthCare.gov platform and those totals are cumulative for all HealthCare.gov states in that market. Because some communities do not fall into a local media market, cumulative plan selections for local markets will not total the national cumulative plan selection number. The full list of enrollment data broken down by market is available here: https://www.cms.gov/Newsroom/MediaReleaseDatabase/Fact-sheets/2016-Fact-sheets-items/2016-01-20.html
